Wednesday, November 26, 2008

While I was traveling across the state west to east to spend the holiday with my son and family, my daughter (only daughter) and family traveled south to north to see same son (only son). Daughter & family are visiting in-laws, but traveled a couple of hours to meet son for lunch and let the kids play. It was too cool to meet at the park, so they opted for McDonald's thinking the boys could play there. The playground turned out to be too big for the boys and another child's toilet problems were a further deterent. I was the lucky one of the day. My daughter took the first picture of all 4 grandchildren together. I am convinced that I have the some of cutest grandchildren for miles around. However, I may be slightly prejudiced. They range from 27 months to almost 2 1/2 months.

Monday, November 24, 2008

I've come to the conclusion that I have another addiction. If I possess one of something and I see another similar one at a garage sale or auction, I buy it so the first one won't stand out so much. To keep the little buggers from being lonely, I just keep adding and creating more collections. Case in point, I had some pieces of 70's green glass that I liked and you know they almost give that stuff away, so this is part of what I have.

I have a shelf about 12 feet long the entire length of one of the bedrooms rapidly filling with this stuff. One end is the 70's avocado green and this end is the emerald green glass. I just really enjoy looking a them as a whole. Most of them are only worth a couple of bucks.

Here is my upstairs guest room collection. The heat detector sets right in the middle of the shelf, so I'm only showing half. This cobalt colored stuff is a little harder to find on the cheap.

Cheap art and it's fun to search for. What can I say? Do you know the cure for this addiction? I'm thinking that if they suddenly become highly collectible, I would be motivated to sell them. Then, again, if they were valuable, I'd be on look out for more. I think I may be incurable.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Do you ever think about how difficult it is to live so your christianity shows? I'm thinking this in a round-a-bout way because I got a different car. Bear with me and you might learn how I got there. My almost 13 year old car was starting to worry me, so I went shopping and the best deal I found was a red car. When you drive a gray minivan you are pretty anonymous among all the other neutral colored vans, but a red car in a small town screams "It's her!" and everyone knows who the car belongs to. I think I'm a good driver, but sometimes I get impatient with others. You know, like the guy ahead of you driving 15 mph and looking left and right while you are running late. Or, when everyone is trying to decide who will go first at a 4-way, so you just go. It only takes of few seconds of patience, but sometimes I just don't use it and I'm immediately ashamed. I think if I had one of those JESUS tags that you can't read until you stare at it or the ithcus (fish) emblem, I would be even more ashamed.

If you know Lutherans, the pastor usually wears his collar just for church services. The rest of the time they dress like everyone else. We had a pastor a few years back that wore his more often than that. When I asked him about it, he told me it helped to remind him of his calling.

Many of us wear crosses, even people who aren't Christians. It's just a piece of jewelry to them. I wear one nearly every day, but I want to be the kind of person who lets their faith show, no matter what they are wearing. I also know that I will often fail because we all "fall short of the glory of God".

So what is the point of this ramble? I imagine you are totally baffled by now. Maybe, having a red car could make me a more considerate driver or could it make me a better Christian?

This is my cross. I had the medallion cast from my late husband's wedding ring.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Dear Sirs:In view of what seems to be happening internationally with banks at the moment, I was wondering if you could advise me. If one of my checks is returned marked "insufficient funds," ..... How do I know whether that refers to me or to you?

My daughter & I just had our second "House Party". Her hubby is out in Wyoming for several days, so she and the kiddos came to stay with me. With a 2 year old and a 4 month old, an extra hand is a real bonus. Plus, I get to spend 24 hour days with my grandchildren without being 100% in charge. Neither one of us feels like a house guest since she's using her old bedroom with just a couple of baby beds added. Hah!Anyway, I enjoy having people in the house again and if they didn't add to the mess, I would never realize how bad things were getting. They are on their way back home....clear across town (2.5 miles) as Dad should be home before bed time. It was good time. I just need to remember to get rid of the trash can full of diapers tomorrow. Stinky, stinky, stinky!

Monday, November 17, 2008

I was reading Far Side of Fifty's account of her EMT career. It brought back a memory that I had forgotten. I worked in communications from the time I was 16 until I retired. I was always on call and many nights the phone rang at 3 a.m. My habit in the winter was to tuck my nightgown into my sweats, pull on my snow boots, don a stocking hat and my down coat and go to the office. After all, I wasn't going to see anyone but the local cop on patrol. It saved time, I could fix the trouble and be back home most nights in under an hour and go back to bed. That all changed one night when things were more complicated and not resolved very quickly. My boss came down to the office for some reason or other. I tell you I got really, really warm working with my coat on until he left! Needless to say, I started putting a sweatshirt over my night gown after that.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Lately, I've been feeling inept since I don't raise anything. I use to have a garden, but when I go on my builds they either burn up or the weeds take over, so this year I didn't even try. (forgive the previous sentence, it's not worth the effort to fix it, if I could) I guess I raise grass, because I spend a lot of time mowing it. The other thing I raise really well is dust bunnies. They are multiplying even as you read this. Oh, and I had more apples from my one little tree this fall than I ever had. Also, tonight, I discovered I must be raising birds. I can hear a bird chirping in the ceiling over my head. I went outside in the dark cold with a spot light to see if the screens on the gable vents had come off, but they look intact. Tomorrow I will get the extension ladder and see if there is an opening into the house attic from the garage. I came home one day this week and the garage door was open. Sometimes those darn cats run in as the door goes down. However it got in, I suspect it will have to die there. I sure hope it doesn't stink. I'm not opening up the attic from the inside and having a bird loose in the house. It's very stressful being a homeowner!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I've only been blogging for a few months. I was beginning to think I was too old as most of the blogs I looked at were discussing breast feeding and home schooling. Now I'm not uninterested in those topics, especially when they concern my grandchildren. I just didn't have much in common with most of those bloggers. A young woman I have enjoyed reading is Rachel. She always has a positive outlook, is a prolific knitter, teaches music from her home, homeschools her children and has a great sense of humor. I wonder if she ever has a down day or she just blogs on her "good" days. Seriously, I think she is an admirable wife & mother.

Recently I have found some blogs of women closer to my generation. Although I don't raise goats or chickens, I find I can relate to their lives and memories. I'm enjoying Life on a Southern Farm and I have a new friend over at Wyoming Breezes, so check them out if you get a chance.

I recently was the lucky winner of these towels from Garage Gramma. Aren't they cute? They've been hanging there for a couple days. Now I can use them, since I finally got a picture taken. Thank you Kathy!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

When I went into town this evening I noticed the trucks were lined up for over 4 blocks waiting to get into the elevator. It has just dried up enough from the last rain for the harvest to resume and now there is rain and snow predicted for tomorrow. Last year, I drove the tractor and operated the grain cart for my brother-in-law for a while. Actually it was probably just a week, but 14 hour days made it seem longer. He was finally able to find some more experienced help, so I got canned! Anyway, I took my cameras with me and got some good pictures.

When you see the yellow start to top the bin, you need to get the cart over to the combine before it runs on the ground.

The combine unloads the corn into the grain cart.

The tractor driver takes it to the truck at the edge of the field and offloads into the trailer. The tennis ball is to help some of us novices with poor depth perception line up with the trailer.

You work as late as you can, until the corn tests too wet or the elevator closes.

This picture was through the rear window of the tractor into the sunset. Looks like gold, huh?

This little baby needs a heart transplant. She is only a few days younger than my little Mariell. Please check out her story here and help if you can. You can also click on picture below to get a chance to win a quilt and help.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

I picked this image up over here. I voted early as many of my friends did. No matter who you like, you need to vote. To not excercise this right is disrespectful of all the sacrifices others made for us to have that right.

Monday, November 3, 2008

What is it with little (and big) boys and tractors. Whenever I take my grandson outside, I can guarantee where those little legs will take him first. He's only 2 years old, but he climbs up on that old tractor like a little monkey. He also has observed how temperamental it is and uses the palm of his hand to tap the throttle. I don't know if my kids were as smart as my grandchildren. Probably they were, I was just too busy to notice.

What a lovely weekend we just had. The weather has been so mild that I'm getting a second chance to do the winterizing I should have already done. I had to work my courage up for one task, though. Long story short... my dog hasn't been sleeping in his dog house, which seems unusual for the cool nights and I was missing a cat. Can you see where this is going? It has happened before. Anyway, I couldn't smell anything, so I had to nerve up and crawl in the doghouse to see if there was a dead cat inside. Fortunately there wasn't. So that was GOOD.Also, I've have some new trees that I babied all summer. I've been thinking that I need to protect them from the rabbits and deer this winter. I purchased a roll of orange snow fence and tied it to some t-posts that I pounded in the ground. I don't know why I put it off. It didn't take nearly as long as I anticipated. I hope it survives our strong Kansas wind. I really can't believe that built a fence!

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About Me

I'm a grandmother in my fifties, who likes to travel in an old RV. I started blogging in April of 2008 to chronical a month long trip I took in the motorhome to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. I lost my best friend and husband to cancer in 2005. I began working with the Care-a-vanner's the following summer. I've met some wonderful people, made new friends, visited new places and helped to build 10 houses. I find it difficult to be idle, so when I'm home I volunteer at church, spend time with my grandchildren and work partime for a brokerage firm.